Wire wrapping tool

ABSTRACT

A fencing tool comprises a cylindrical shaft that is knurled intermediate its ends. Each end is longitudinally drilled to the knurled handle portion along the axis. One or more holes are drilled in the end portions intersecting with the longitudinal holes. A spiral slot is formed in one end and elliptical slots in the other.

United States Patent [191 Self [111 3,805,854 [451 Apr. 23, 1974 WIREWRAPPING TOOL [76] Inventor: Billy Self, RR 2, Cumberland Furnace, Tenn.37051 1 [22] Filed: July 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 163,383

[52] US. Cl. 140/117 [51] Int. Cl

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,147,042 2/1939 Johnson140/117 1,606,989 11/1926 Frink 758,829 5/1904 Dodd 942,732 12/1909Morford 140/117 B21f7/00 1 58 Field of Search..... 29/203 H, 203 HM;140/52,

1,207,367 12/1916 Buswell.... 140/117 3,378,906 4/1968 Dorsey.....140/124 X 2,804,887 9/1957 Reck 140/123 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS757 11/1915 GreatBritaini ..140/1l8 Primary Examiner-Charles W. LanhamAssistant Examiner-E. M. Combs Attorney, Age/1t, or Firm-Char1es Hieken;Jerry Cohen [5 7] ABSTRACT A fencing tool comprises a cylindrical shaftthat is knurled intermediate its ends. Each end is longitudinallydrilled tothe knurled handle portion along the axis. One or more holesare drilled in the end portions intersecting with the longitudinalholes. A spiral slot is formed in one end and elliptical slots in theother.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures e'lflTEHT-ED 2 m 3.805; 854

SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR.

, BILLY SELF ATTORNEY mmziz'a'ium 23 1914 (1805854 SHEEI 2 OF 2INVENTOR.

BILLY SELF ATTORNEY 1 WIRE WRAPPING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates in general to fencing and more particularlyconcerns a novel apparatus and techniques especially useful inconnection with repairing barbed wire fences. The invention isrelatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, relatively easy to useby relatively unskilled personnel and greatly facilitates fence repair.

It is an important object of this invention to an improved fencing tool.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tool esepciallyuseful in repairing wire fences.

It is another object of the invention to achieve one or more of thepreceding objects with a tool that is relatively easy and inexpensive tomanufacture, is rugged and may be used by relatively unskilledpersonnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is meansdefining a shaft having a handle portion intermediate end portions.Preferably the handle portion is knurled. At least one end portion isdrilled longitudinally to a predetermined depth much less than thelength of the shaft parallel to the shaft axis and formed with anorthogonally intersecting opening. Preferably this end also is formedwith a circumferential helical slot that begins opposite the orthogonalopening and ends at the end of the shaft.

Preferably the other end is also formed with a longitudinal openingextending a predetermined depth into the shaft that is much less thanthe shaft length. Preferably this end also has at least one openingextending through the shaft orthogonal to and intersecting thelongitudinal opening and a slot adjacent the opening. Preferably thereare two such openings in that end with one of the openings being oflarger diameter than the other and a slot beside each opening.

Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the inventionwillbecome apparent from the following specification when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawing in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apreferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 and 3 are plan and elevation views, respectively, of the fencingtool of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate the techniques for using the tool toclamp wire to a metal post;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate techniques for wrapping wire mesh; and

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C illustrate techniques for wrapping barbed wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED- EMBODIMENTS provide 2 opening 15 andterminates at 17 about about the axis of the shaft.

At end 12 axial opening 21 extends nearly to handle portion 1 1 and isof slightly greater diameter than axial opening 14. Radial openings 22and 23 pass through the shaft as shown and through axial opening 21.Rounded elliptical slots 24 and 25 are positioned inwardly of openings22 and 23. Opening 22 is slightly smaller in diameter than opening 23which is slightly smaller in diameter than opening 21. The openings andslots are useful for accommodating wire while the wire is being wrapped.

Referring to FIGS. 4A4C, there is illustrated the steps for clampingwire to a metal post in accordance with the invention. First, clamp 31is placed around metal fence post 32 and under barbed wire strand.33 asshown in-FIG. 4A. Referring to FIG. 48 hole 14 is placed over the end ofclamp 31 with the end of clamp 31 wedged in opening 15 to facilitateobtaining a tight rap of clamp 31 about wire 33. Then the clamp 31 isdegrees twisted around wire 33 with the aid of tool 1 l with helicalslot l6 accommodating wire 33 until tight. By rotating the tool aboutits axis to the left, it may be removed from the clamp as shown in FIG.4C while clamp 31 remains tightly twisted around wire 33.

, Referring to FIGS. 5A-5C, there is shown the tech .nique for wrappingwire mesh according to the invention. First, the wires 41 and .42 to bejoined are cut and placed in overlapping relationship as shown in FIG.5A. Then the end of wire 41 is placed through opening 22 and wrappedabout wire 42 as shown with slot 24 ac-j commodating wire 42. Wrappingcontinues until the end of wire 41 slips out ofhole 22 as shown in FIG.5C. The same procedure may be followed with the other strands tocomplete the junction. The invention thus helps make a tight joint withrelatively little effort and reduces the chance that the user will beinjured by the sharp wire.

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, there is shown a similar sshiiiqy f ni atngtwo ens so ba bc W the barbs are cut off one end of each length of wire,the ends 51 and 52 and 53 and 54are spread apart and brought intooverlapping relationship, as indicated in FIG. 6A. Then one strand ofwire, such as 51, is iiiserted in opening 22 and wrapped about theopposite length of wire as indicated in FIG. 68 while holding slot 24against the wire to function as a convenient fulcrum.

The wrapping continues until the wire slips out :of the hole as shown inFIG. 6C. Opening 23'and slot 25 may be used in a similar manner for wireof slightlylarger diameter. Y Various slotsthusperform the function ofaccommodating wires defining fulcrums during thewinding, the helicalslot 16 performing .a similar function when a wire is inserted inlongitudinal opening 14.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tool is madeof tempered steel shaftsevensixteenths inches in diameter. End portion12 is l 15/32 inches long, handle portion 11 is 2 5/6 inches longlandend portion .13 is .1 7/32 inchesilong. Opening :14 isoneeighth indiameter drilled 1 U8 inches deep. Openings 15 and 22 are alsoone-eightinch in diameter. Opening 23 is five-thirty-seconds inch in diameter.Axial sopening 21 is three-sixteenths indiameter drilled 1 %inches deep.Openings :15 and 22 are .each centered onequarter inch from theirrespective ends. Opening .23 is 3 centered /32 inch from the center ofopening 22. The slots are 1/16 inches 3/16 inches.

There has been described novel apparatus and techniques which facilitatefencing. The invention is especially useful in connection with tightlywrapping the relatively stiff wire used in fences. It is evident thatthose skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications ofand departures from the specific apparatus and techniques hereindisclosed without departing from the inventive concepts. Consequently,the invention is to be construed as embracing each and every novelfeature and novel combination of features present in or possessed by theapparatus and techniques herein disclosed.

What is claimed is:

l. A wire wrapping tool comprising, shaft means having a first openingat one end along the axis of said shaft means and a second openingspaced from said one end extending radially from said first opening to acircumferential wall of said shaft means,

said shaft means having a helical slot in the circumferential wall ofsaid shaft means extending from said one end to a point on said wallspaced from said one end said helical slot defining means foraccommodating a first wire about which a second 4 wire positioned insaid openings is to be wrapped with the aid of said tool and forreleasing said tool by rotating said shaft means about said axis whilesaid second wire remains tighly wound about said first wire.

2. A fencing tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slot extendsapproximately about the circumference of said tool.

3. A fencing tool in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising athird opening at the other end of said shaft means along the axisthereof and a fourth opening intersecting said third opening andextending between opposed points of said circumferential wall,

and a slot in said circumferential wall adjacent to said fourth opening.

4. A fencing tool in accordance with claim '3 wherein saidlast-mentioned slot is of generally elliptical cross section having amajor axis perpendicular to and a minor axis parallel to the axis ofsaid shaft.

5. A fencing tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plane includingsaid point on said wall and perpendicular to the axis of said shaftmeans passes through said second opening.

1. A wire wrapping tool comprising, shaft means having a first openingat one end along the axis of said shaft means and a second openingspaced from said one end extending radially from said first opening to acircumferential wall of said shaft means, said shaft means having ahelical slot in the circumferential wall of said shaft means extendingfrom said one end to a point on said wall spaced from said one end saidhelical slot defining means for accommodating a first wire about which asecond wire positioned in said openings is to be wrapped with the aid ofsaid tool and for releasing said tool by rotating said shaft means aboutsaid axis while said second wire remains tighly wound about said firstwire.
 2. A fencing tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slotextends approximately 180* about the circumference of said tool.
 3. Afencing tool in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a thirdopening at the other end of said shaft means along the axis thereof anda fourth opening intersecting said third opening and extending betweenopposed points of said circumferential wall, and a slot in saidcircumferential wall adjacent to said fourth opening.
 4. A fencing toolin accordance with claim 3 wherein said last-mentioned slot is ofgenerally elliptical cross section having a major axis perpendicular toand a minor axis parallel to the axis of said shaft.
 5. A fencing toolin accordance with claim 1 wherein a plane including said point on saidwall and perpendicular to the axis of said shaft means passes throughsaid second opening.